Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-09-02
WHO IS TO BLAME !?


been accepted by the bondhOlders,
who is to blame7 There should be
no difference of opinion as to where
the true responsibility attaches.
In 1880 the Readjusters passed
the Riddleberger bill. 1t was OPP
posed by every Democrat in the
Legislature, 1--WE called them Fun
ders them. The bill was vetoed by
Gov. Holiday the idol of Funder-
ism, and the exponent of what was
then known as COnservative-De-
mOcracy. The Conservative-DemOc-
racy, as party organization opposed
the Riddleberger settlement be-
cause they said it did not provide
for paying the bondhOlders what
was Justly due them, because 1t was
unconstitutional, and for the further
reason that it was a reputation
disgraceful to the state and not de-
manded by financial necessity
The revenues of the state we're de-
clared by the so called debt.payers
to be sufficient to pay six per cent.
on the twenty-nine millions provid-
ed for by the Funding bill of 1872.
The creditors were taken under the
special protection and care of the
Observation-Disclosures party
Every occasion was used to impress
the bondholders with the belief that
readjustment was a principle that
had been conceived by dishonest
and corrupt politicians who were
supported by a crowd of irresponsi.
BILE and unworthy citizens, repre-
senting no part of the intelligence,
social worth or integrity of the pop
ulatlon. A solemn pledge was made
the creditors by the honor shrek.
ers that the Riddleberger bill
should never become law. John
Daniel made his canvass for Gov
ernor upon that line: but failed OF
election and carried his party of
"honor and integrity to disastrous
defeat. The Rlddleberger bill was
passed the second time, by the Re.
adjusters in the Legislature of
1882. The Democracy became
alarmed and in the Congressional
election of 1882 selected Mr.. Mas.
sey, whom they had formerly abus.
ed in unmeasured terms, for theiC
leader, as candidate for Congress
man at large. Then in their Con-
vention of the Democratic party
in 1888, at Lynchburg, embodied
in its platform the Riddleberger
settlement, becoming the pretend.
ed champions of what they had be-
fore so violently opposed and de-
nounced. They succeeded in elect
ing, By questionable methods, a
majority of the general assembly
aud by the most revolutionary con-
duct, regardless of law or precedent,
increased their majority to two
thirds majority. They began to
tamper with the Riddleberger bill ;
and succeeded in getting it again
into the Supreme Court of the Unit
ed States, and provoking an end.
less stream OF litigation which still
continues to flow with undated
CELEBRITY. If the Democrats had
been half as jealous in their support
Of the Riddleberger bill in 1SSO.S1
as they now are, if they had pre-
scented the same views to the credi-
tors that they are now prOnouncing,
the bOndhOlders would not have
been induced to take such a stub.
born position against the settle
ment; but would have accepted
the situation. They believed what
was told them about the ability of
Virginia by the Democrats in 1881.
They were taught to believe that
readjustment was an unclean thing.
These convictions became deeply
rooted in their minds; aud they
will pay no heed now TO the men
who taught them these things in
1881. but who have from policy
changed front. The creditors are
not so much to blame for the fail
ure of readjustment-the "honOr
and integrity" men, the so'called
Democracy of Virginia, are the
guilty parties. If the people OF
this state have to pay the full de.
mands OF the bOndholders they will
have the Democratic party to thank
Wytkerille Patriot and Herald.